THE ART OF FOCUS

 The Art of Focus 

"Due date is tomorrow; I really gotta focus on my assignments, but before that, let's play some games." - DELETE THAT THING OFF FROM YOUR PHONE

"Gosh, it's midnight, and in the afternoon I have my exam. I really have to focus on studying... Lemme look for the notes online." (proceeds to scroll for hours)

Once again saying, DELETE THAT THING OFF FROM YOUR LIFE.

You know why you are not able to focus on what's important: because you're not making them your priority. You are stuck in your comfort zone. You don't want to do that hard work but will still cry about why things are not working for you, as if someone else is liable for your failed tasks. 

Get up, look in the mirror, and shout, I'M RESPONSIBLE, and I'M READY!

Ready to delete those distractions from my life,

Ready to act mature and start taking my life more seriously,

Ready to make my parents proud,

Ready to make me proud of myself.

It's not that bad to live a good life, right? Then why are you trying to run away from it? Get that steering wheel of your life in your hand and show the world what you're capable of. Make everyone feel confused about what happened to you; how are you being so productive? Make your closed ones feel happy for your new and better version.

 Trust me, "being your best" is the best feeling out there. 

The Art of Focus

"Okay, I feel motivated, but how do you start this thing?" Simple answer: The Art of Focus. 

Not rocket science, just focus. Focus on what's important and not on what's eating your life. 

I understand that you really like those distractions, they give pleasure to you but tell me, will it look good if in future you find yourself struggling to even live? No right; then stop them, simple. It can be hard in the beginning, but NOTHING GOOD COMES EASY.

Sacrifice these short-term pleasures for those long-term pleasures. You have to do it. FOCUS.

Why focus matters.

To keep it simple, focus is what helps you get things done. It helps you give your full attention to something, and trust me, that's when the real progress starts. 

And to keep it a little complicated (as people these days like), focus is that bridge between your intentions and the results. If that bridge is broken, even your best plan will die under the weight of procrastination and your inefficiency. But what happens if you have built that bridge perfectly?

You increase your productivity.

You not only achieve results but also of better quality.

You neither feel mental fatigue nor any stress.

You live with positivity and forget what negative self-talk is.

Fall in love with your goals.

You really maintain a strong focus while playing games, don't you? The same way you have to focus on your goals. Just replace those games with your goals. The only difference is that games give you short term pleasures and the goals give you long term pleasures. So decide what you want to achieve; and if your answer is long term pleasures then for that, you really need to understand why you have that goal; you really need to fall in love with your goals. 

 Steps to master the art of focus

1) Know What You Want To Achieve - Don't just jump blindly into anything; be clear about what you want to achieve. Let's say you have to study for your finals. So instead of stressing about how much there is to study, break it into two chapters. It's not necessary to complicate what's easy. 

2) Remove Distractions - Distractions can be everywhere: notifications from your phone, a fly buzzing around you, even your thoughts can break your focus. So set your goals, find some quiet place, sit down, and break those complex tasks into simpler ones.

 3) Take Breaks - Our brain is not a machine; it needs breaks for better efficiency. Work for 20-25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. This is also called the Pomodoro Technique.

4) Practice Mindfulness - Let's be honest, your mind sucks at focusing until and unless you train it. It could be your biggest foe if not trained properly: a weapon that can inflict self-harm if not used properly. How to practice it? Meditate. Practicing mindfulness, deep breathing, and even spirituality can help if you are into it. 

Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita

I'm into spirituality, so let me share a quote from the Bhagavad Gita:

“The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it is subdued by practice” (Chapter 6, Verse 35)

It is what focus is all about. There's no need to worry if your mind keeps on wandering; it's completely natural. But with practice and patience, you can go against it. You can make your mind your best ally. Train it to stay centered on what truly matters. 

Krishna says, “Practice and patience can overcome even the most restless mind.”

A friendly reminder

Everyone is busy doing gym these days, so correlating with it, we can say that focus is just like your muscle. You cannot train it overnight; it needs patience, practice, consistency, and willpower. Start small but keep going. 

So, the next time you sit down to do your work, remember that it's not going to be easy. Even if the task is as easy as picking up a glass of water, procrastination can make it harder. 

So step aside those distractions, set clear goals, and, the most important, take one step at a time. 

Remember, focus isn't just a skill but an art. And the best part? An art is something that can be learnt by anyone, including you. 

So stop running from your responsibilities and start focusing on your goals. I'm pretty sure you will always want your child to be proud of you, so do something now; focus.